Over the edge

Snakes, bats and skunks are making their way into residential areas

By DD Bixby, H&N's Staff Writer

August 28, 2008

Kevin Harris of Humane Animal Relocation checks on a skunk he trapped Tuesday in Klamath Falls. Harris keeps the captured skunks on his property south of town, then releases them back into the wild.

It’s been an especially busy summer for Kevin Harris, whose job it is to trap and relocate wild animals that make city backyards their homes.

But Harris doesn’t believe more wildlife is moving to the city. Instead, he says, it’s likely the warmer weather enticed people to spend more evening hours outdoors, and they are seeing the nocturnal critters that roam the city’s backyards and streets. Several days ago, for example, Harris got a call from a resident who had been visited by a family of eight — a mother skunk and her kits.

Harris runs Humane Relocation Service, and for the last five years has worked under a cooperative permit with Oregon Fish and Wildlife. He said, fall and spring tend to be the peak times for capturing backyard animals.

Skunks, raccoons, digger squirrels and lately a lot of snakes have shown up in Harris’ live traps, and once he’s captured a few, he takes them to forested land about 10 miles from dwellings and returns the critters to the wild.

Harris gets most of his calls from city residents, but recently he’s gotten calls from residents in the Foothills Boulevard area, where development has disrupted bull snakes.

Right now he’s getting a lot of bat calls. To remove bats, he puts a cone-like device on the flying mammals’ exit that allows them to leave but not return, forcing them to relocate.

“You can’t trap and release a bat,” he said. “Because they’re like a bird, they’ll beat you back home.”

Nestled between city neighborhoods, Moore Park is a known viewing point for mule deer, marmots and even cougars, said Ken Hay, superintendent of programs and development for city parks.

He said there’s even evidence of bears in the park.

Other areas like the Wing Watchers Trail along Lake Ewauna and the Link River Trail are home to animals like river otters, foxes, rabbits and reptiles.

The No. 1 reason wildlife comes into the city is because of pet food, Harris said.

Klamath Wildlife Refuge area manager Lanny Fujishin agreed. He said the combination of food and appealing habitat, like parks, abandoned houses and open house foundations draw wildlife.

“If the habitat doesn’t exist, the wildlife won’t be there,” he said. “The habitat exists for the animals to exist within the city already.”

Fujishin said nine years ago on Christmas Day, a bear was found stuck between two buildings in downtown Klamath Falls.

Though larger predators like bear and cougars are uncommon within the city limits, Fujishin said it’s a possibility because animals lower on the food chain, like deer, live or travel regularly through the city.

Side Bars

Link River wildlife

A free updated wildlife guide to the Link River Trail is available.

“An Interpretive Guide to the Link River Trail” is aimed at youth and includes history, word searches, connect the dot and games involving animals children can see on the trail, as well as a checklist to tally sightings.

The guide also includes a pull-out card with color pictures of local wildlife.

Copies of the guide are at the city of Klamath Falls Parks Division, 226 S. Fifth St. and Travel Klamath, 205 Riverside Drive.

This publication was funded by a grant from the Pacific Power Foundation and printed by the Klamath Falls City Schools.

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